Healthcare Cost Data Map: Sources You Need Before Comparing Cities
A source map for premiums, plans, providers and outcomes—not an invented city index.
Evidence Boundary
The previous map asserted a healthcare index range, annual savings, premiums and access trade-offs without a reproducible healthcare dataset. This version explains which dated sources are required before making city comparisons.
Verified City Context
| City | COL | 1BR rent | Income | Home price | Walkability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TX | 85.6 | $781 | $60,200 | $296,500 | 45 |
| New York, NY | 112.5 | $2,451 | $76,577 | $875,000 | 75 |
| San Francisco, CA | 118.2 | $2,818 | $126,730 | $1,770,000 | 70 |
| Miami, FL | 111.8 | $1,884 | $68,635 | $600,000 | 55 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 105.5 | $1,599 | $79,664 | $457,000 | 75 |
| Erie, PA | 91.5 | $757 | $41,377 | $162,000 | 35 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.4 | $965 | $66,219 | $275,000 | 55 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 91.3 | $1,537 | $71,402 | $710,000 | 35 |
The table illustrates why general income and housing context must remain separate from healthcare evidence. It does not contain medical price or outcome fields.
Build a Reproducible Healthcare Map
Use plan documents or marketplace files for premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Use insurer directories and provider confirmation for network status. Use transparent hospital-price files carefully because negotiated rates, billing codes and patient responsibility differ. Use official quality datasets with a named measure, period and denominator.
Do not combine premiums, procedure prices and outcomes into one score without publishing normalization and weights. Do not infer specialist access from city size or cost of living. Clearly separate individual, employer and Medicare coverage.
This page owns data-source methodology. The companion article owns the household medical-budget worksheet.
🧮 How Far Does YOUR Salary Go?
This article uses $50K as a benchmark, but your situation is unique. Use our free tools to calculate your exact purchasing power in any of these cities.
📊 Methodology
Methodology and Limits
Displayed city values come from Ocity’s production cities snapshot exported July 12, 2026. Ocity does not currently store verified city-level broadband speed, coworking inventory, remote-work adoption, employer location policy, insurance premiums, procedure prices, provider networks, hospital quality or patient outcomes.
This refresh therefore does not rank cities using those unavailable fields. Current local service, employer and healthcare data must be verified from dated primary sources before a decision.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rank internet quality?
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Does this compare medical prices?
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Can I keep my salary after moving?
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Does a low cost index guarantee affordable care?
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Why preserve this URL?
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📝 Editor's Verdict
Bottom Line
Use the table for general cost context and the checklist for source verification. Do not treat citywide economic fields as evidence of remote-work suitability or healthcare affordability.
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